Cementing of wells



April 2s, 1964 J. L. RKE 3,130,782

CEMENTING oF WELLS4 Filed May 7, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 vzw.

INVENTOR.

JAM ES L.. R I K E April 28, 1964 .1. 1 RIKE CEMENTING oF WELLS 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 7, 1962 FIG INVENTOR.

JAMES L. RIKE, y

April 28, 1964 J. 1 RIKE CEMENTING oF WELLS Filed May '7, 1962 I5Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 6.

FIG. 5.

INVENTOR.

JAMES L. RIKE,

AT RNE United States Patent O 3,130,782 CEMENTHNG OF WELLS James L.Rike, New Orleans, La., assigner, by mesne assignments, to .lierseyProduction Research Company, Tulsa, Okla., a corporation of DelawareFiled May 7, 1962, Ser. No. 192,866 9 Claims. (Ci. 16d-26) The presentinvention is directed to a method for cementing. wells. Moreparticularly, thel invention is directed to cementing a well having aplurality of parallel pipe strings arranged therein. In its morespecific aspects, the invention is concerned withl method and appa*ratus for cementing wells such as those producing hydrocarbons such asoil andy gas.

This application is a continuation-in-part of Serial No. 846,969,entitled Cementing of Oil Wells, filed October 16, 1959, for lames L.Rike.

The present inventionl may be brieiiy described as a method forcernenting a plurality of side-oy-side parallel pipe strings which arefluidly interconnected. One of the pipe strings allows passage of fluidsout of its lower end` and another of the pipe strings allows passage offluids through its wall at a selected point. ln the practice of thepresent invention, a cementitious material such as Portland cement andthe like is flowed down one of the pipe strings and out the endv thereofto lill the annulus between the pipe strings and the wall of the wellbore to a predetermined level below the selected point while maintaininganother of those pipe strings free of cementin tious material.Cementitious material is then flowed down the other of the pipestringsand into the annulus above the first fiowed cementitious material whilemaintaining the one pipe string free of cementitious material.Thereafter, a displacing fluid is flowed down the one pipe string todisplace cementitious material from the other pipe string whereby thepipe strings are cemented in the- Well bore.

In the cementing of strings of pipe such as casi-ng in oil and gaswells, it is often desirable or necessary to cement by stages bycementing through an upper port in theV pipe string after the firststage cement around the lower portion of the string has set. In usualpractice this is accomplished by meansy of a special tool run to thedesired pointsuch that by releasing to they luid stream a drillableplug-type opening device, iiuid passage may be stopped below the tooland a port opened to the outer portion of the casing string. A followerplug is then usedY behind the cement to indicate at the surface whenthecement is properly in place. This procedure is unsatisfactory in that itrequires the subsequent drilling of the cement and sealing plugs used toperformy the necessary closingl andV opening functions of the tool.

in making tubingless completions whereby a plurality of side-by-sideparallel pipe strings are arranged in a hole, the usual string of pipeis cemented inside the well bore to4 become a permanent casing of awell. In these situations it may even be desirable to have, cementcovering the annulus between the wall of the well and the casing to apoint higherthan it is feasible to circulate from the bottom of thewell. For example, in many cases it may be desirable to have a cementsheath completelyr around the pipe upto the surface pipe or to thesurface of the ground. In the practice of the present invention, methodand apparatus are provided for stage cementing such wells when two ormore side-by-side pipe strings are used, which does not require drillingout before perforation and final completion of the wells.

The present invention will be further illustratedby reference to thedrawing in which:

FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrate apparatus in section for per-y 3,130,782Patented Apr. 28, 1964i ICC forming a stepwise mode of practicing thepresent invention in dual pipe strings;

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional View of apparatus for performing theinvention in quadruple strings of pipes;

FIG. 5 is a detailed view in partial section of the check valves ofFIGS. 1 to 4; and

FlG. 6 is'a detailed View in section of the sleeve valves of FIG. 4.

Referring now to the drawing in which identical nu merals willA beemployed to, designate identical parts, numeral. 11 designates a wellbore drilled from the earths surface to penetrate a plurality ofsubsurface earth formations which may contain hydrocarbons such as oiland/ or gas. Arranged in the well borel 11 is a first pipe string 12 anda second pipe string 13 which are fluidly interconnected bya fluidinterconnecting means 14 forming` a passageway 15 between the pipestrings 12 and- 13.

Ther lower end ofthe first pipe string 12 which may be the longer of thepipe strings is provided with a cement shoe 16 which includes a ball.valve 17 seatable against a surface 18. The cement shoe has passageways19 for passage of cement outwardly therefrom into the annulus 20A ofthewell 11.

The' secondpipe string 13 which may be shorter than the first pipestring 12 is provided with a wireline retrievable check Valve 21 inwhich a ball valve member 22 is arranged and. is seatable on a seatingsurface 23. The ball valve memberl 22'Y is held in place by a portedplate or spider 24. As will be noted, the upper end of valve 21 isprovided with a fishing neck 25 whereby it may be engaged by a suitablegrab tool' attached to a wireline for moving the check valve 21 throughthe pipe string- 13. lt will be noted that the check valve 21 isprovided with sea-ling means 25 and 27 for sealing with the Wall of thepipe string 13;

The pipe string' 13 is provided with a second check valve 23 which maybe attached exteriorly to the pipe string 13Y and communicate therewithby means of the port 2.9. The check valve 28; is provided with a valvemember 30. seatable on a surface 31 and'` whichV is held in place by aspider or perforated plate 32. While the valve 28 is shown forconvenience located exteriorly on the pipe string 13 and connectedthereto, it may suitably be inserted in. akmandrel iiuidly communicatinglwith the` interior of the pipe string 1'3 andl seatable therein byloweririg' through the pipe stringV 13.

Inl practicing. the present invention, cement is, flowed' down throughthe pipe stringI 12 and is followed by a plug 33 which is se'atedj inthe bore 34 of the valve seat 18 and; closes` same indicatingy that thebody of Cement 35 .hasV risen to the level 36' below the check valve 28;This is' determined by a rise in pressure by closing of the port 34 bythe plug 33.

It is undesirable to attempt to cement higher than the level 36 in thatexcessive pressures may be required to increase the level beyond thepoint 36.

In' the practice of the present invention, cement is arranged in the.annulus 2liv abovethe level 356 by moving the check` valve 21 to a pointabove the passageway 15 such thatit is sealed above the passageway 15Aand prevents flow downk the; pipe string 13L from preceding into thepipe string 12, the check'valve 21 allowing onlyunidirectional' flowfrom pipe string 12: to. pipe stringA 13. Cementitious material such`asa body 37 is then flowed down the pipe string 13 followed by afluidmat'erial' 3,8 which may be vany 'suitable displacing fluid such assalt water, fresh water, drilling mud, andthe like, or may be a hydro-4carbon in a liquid phase. Thisl causes the cement tol be forced outythrough the port 29 in the check Valve 28 into the annulus 2i) and toform a body ofl cement 37a above the level 36. Thereafter displacingfluid such as 38 may be flowed down through the pipe string 12, as shownin FIG. 3, and through the fluid passageway and upwardly through thecheck valve 21 moving the valve 22 or its seat and allowing the cement37 remaining in the pipe string 13 to be displaced upwardly to the wellhead and for removal from the pipe string 13. By virtue of the weight ofthe column of cement 37a in the annulus 2t) and by use of a lighterfluid 38 for displacement of the cement 37, the upper valve 3l) remainsseated on the seating surface 31, and when the cement 37a has set, it ispermanently closed.

It may thus be seen that with the employment of the method and apparatusof the present invention, it is possible to cement a plurality of pipestrings in a well without resorting to special tools for drillout andremoving excess cement from the pipe string. The present invention istherefore quite advantageous and useful in that the several pipe stringsin a well bore are cemented in place without difiiculty.

After the cement 37a has set, the check valve 21 may be removed from theinterior of pipe string 13 by lowering a wireline provided with a grabtool for engaging with the fishing neck 2S, and the check valve 21 isthen removed from the pipe string 13.

Thereafter both the pipe string 12 and the pipe string 13 may beperforated in vertically spaced-apart hydrocarbon productive zones. Inorder to perforate the pipe string 13, it may be necessary to employ asuitable orienting device such as one described in the patent toBielstein, U.S. 2,781,098.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there are arranged in a well bore 40 aplurality of pipe strings 41, 42, 43, and 44. Pipe string 41 is liuidlyconnected by a suitable connecting means 45 to pipe string 42 to providea lluid passageway 46. Pipe string 42 is connected by a suitableconnecting means 47 to pipe string 43 to provide a iluid passageway 48.Pipe strings 43 and 41 are uidly connected by a connecting means 49providing a fluid passageway 50, and pipe strings 44 and 41 are lluidlyconnected by a connecting means 51 providing a uid passageway 52.

The pipe string 41 may be the same length as the pipe strings 42, 43,and 44 or may be of greater length, and the lower end thereof isprovided with a cement shoe 53 which is similar to cement shoe 16 andincludes a ball valve 54 seatable against a surface 55. The cement shoehas passageway 56 for passage of cement out into the annulus 57 of thewell 40.

In practicing the present invention, a valve 58, which is similar to thevalve 21, is provided with a fishing neck 59 for engagement by a grabtool on a wireline, not shown, is placed in the pipe string 42 andsealed therein above the passageway 46 by sealing means 60 and 61. Thevalve 58 is provided with a ball 62 on a surface 63, the ball 62 beingheld in place by a suitable spider 64.

Arranged to communicate fluidly with a port 65 is a second valve 66provided with a ball 67 seatable on a surface 68. The ball valve 67 isretained by the perforated plate 69 which allows fluid to pass out intothe annulus 57.

The pipe strings 43 and 44 are similarly equipped with valves 66a and66b which have ports identical to valve 66. Likewise, pipe string 43 isprovided with sleeve valve 58a, which is similar to valve 58, and asecond sleeve valve 58k, which is also similar to sleeve valve 58. Valve58a, while similar to valve 58, is so designated that flow in eitherdirection is possible as will be apparent from the mode of operation andfrom FIG. 4, where a sleeve assembly is shown. Pipe string 44 isprovided with a sleeve valve 58C which is similar to valves 58, 58a, and58h. It is to be noted that valve 58a is positioned to close olf thepassageway 48 while the valve 53h is arranged above the passageway 50,and the valve 58C is arranged above the passageway 52.

Valves 58b and 58C may or may not contain check 4 valves therein, suchas valves 21 and S8, or may be constructed like valve 58a. When used asshown in FIG. 4 for controlling flow through passageways 50 and 52, acheck valve may be desirable.

It is to be pointed out that passageway 47 and valve 58a are notnecessary to the practice of the present invention but are shown toillustrate that auxiliary passageways may be provided between any two ofthe several strings provided sleeve valves like valve 58a are usedtherewith as illustrated.

Before describing the operation relative to FIG. 4 it is pointed outthat valve 58 is lowered and positioned as shown in pipe string 42, andvalve 58C is lowered and positioned in pipe string 44 above passageway52. Valve 58b is lowered through pipe string 43 and positioned abovepassageway 50, and thereafter valve 58a is lowered through pipe string43 and positioned opposite passageway 48. Thus, valve 58 closescommunication downwardly through pipe string 42 but allows communicationfrom pipe string 41 to pipe string 42. Valve 58a closes flow throughpassageway 48, while valves 58h and 58e allow flow unidirectionally frompipe string 41 to pipe strings 43 and 44, respectively.

In practicing the present invention with the apparatus and mode of FIG.4, cement is pumped down through the pipe string 41 and out through thepassageway 56 to a level generally designated by the numeral 7l) withthe plug seating in the opening 81 of the cement shoe 53 to close same.When it is desired to cement to the level indicated by the numeral 71,cement is then flowed down through the pipe string 42 and out throughthe valve 66 until it reaches a level generally designated by thenumeral 71. Thereafter, excess tiuid cement is then reversed out thepipe string 42 in a similar manner to that described with respect to theexcess fluid cement in pipe string 13, as described relative to FIG. 2.

When it is desired to cement to a still higher level, generallyindicated by the numeral 72, cement is flowed downwardly through thepipe string 44 and out through the valve 66b to the level 72 as has beenindicated, following which excess uid cement in the pipe string 44 isreversed outwardly by flowing a suitable displacement iiuid down throughthe pipe string 41 and through passage 52 and then upwardly in pipestring 44. Likewise, when it is desired to cement to a higher level,which may be to the wellhead, cement is ilowed downwardly through thepipe string 43, the valve 58a being so constructed as to allow iiowdownwardly therethrough as described hereinbefore, and the valve SSbbeing constructed to allow flow upwardly but to prevent ow downwardlywith the cement preceding out through the valve 66a to the top of thewell or to a point intermediate the point 72 and the top of the well.Thereafter, excess fluid cement is circulated out from the pipe string43 by flowing fluid downwardly through pipe string 41 through thepassageway 50 and upwardly through the valve 58b and valve 58a.

It is to be pointed out that sleeve valves such as 58a may be used inlieu of the valves 21, 58, 58h, and 58C provided that suitable valvingat the well head are provided and manipulated (opened or closed) toprevent movement of cement through the fluid communication between thepipe strings. Thus, if the well head valve is closed (as long as thecasing is pressure-tight) there can be no flow into a particular pipestring. Valves 21, 58, 58h, and 58e are desirable and preferable,however, in the event pipe string pressure is not held.

The operation of the valves 21, 58, 58h, and 58e, as well as the sleevevalve 58a, will be understood more clearly by reference to thedescription of FIGS. 5 and 6 where similar numerals will designateidentical parts.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, the valve 21 or 58 has a body membergenerally designated by numeral 90, and is provided on its upper endwith slip segments 91 provided with a shoulder or fishing neck 92, thesegments 91 being held iny place by an annular member 93 attached bymeans 94.

The ball valve member 22 or 62 is designated to seat on a surface 95when pressure is exerted thereon and is mildly urged away from theseating surface 95. by a` Weak spring 96, the lower end of which restson a spider or ported plate 97. Spring 96 is. of suilicient strengthto.prevent ball valve member 22 or 62 from seating and closing. the valve21 or 58 except when pressure from above isexerted thereon. Stating thisotherwise, ball valve member 22 or 62 is not of sullicient weight toovercome the spring 96. Thus, the spring 96 is of selectedand controlledstrength such that spring 96 is of suicient strength to raise the ballValve member 22 or 62 oil the seating surface 95 such that when thevalve 21 or 58 is raised, fluid is allowed to ilow through the valve 21or 58 on upward movement. Otherwise, swabbing of the well would occursince without the spring 96, the valve 21 or 58 would be iluid locked.Other means as desired such as a magnitized prong on the pulling toolmay be used in lieu of the spring when the valve 21 or 58 is raised.

The device of FIG. 6 is identical to that of FIG. 5 and the partsthereof are designated by identical numerals as applied to FIG.excepting that the spider 24 or 64 is replaced by a spacing ring 1135and the check valve 22 or 62 and the spring 96 and spider 97 areomitted. In FIG. 6, the seals 26 or 60, and 27 or 61 are designated as26a and 27a.

In positioning and setting the devices of FIGS. 5 or 6, these devicesare lowered on a wireline to position the device properly. The slipsegments 91 are then set by jarring downwardly on the slip segments 91by exerting force against the shoulder 92, which causes the surface 102to move downwardly on the surface 101.

Although slips may be provided on the lower end of valve 21 or 58,difficulties may be encountered because of inadvertent setting of suchslips while going into the hole. In that there is no need for preventingdownward movement of the device in excess of the moderate downwardholding power afforded by friction from slips 91, ordinarily there is noneed for slips on the lower end of the tool.

In moving the devices of FIGS. 5 and 6, an upward pull is taken on thefishing neck 92 which causes the slip segments 91 to move upwardly onthe surface 101 allowing the tool or device to be removed from the pipestring, or moved and set at a different location, as may be desired.

By this mode of operation, a plurality of pipe strings, which may bethree or four or a greater number, may be cemented in a well bore.

The present invention is of great utility in that for the irst time itis possible to cement a plurality of side-by-side parallel pipe stringsin a well bore without resorting to expensive drilling operations andthe use of special tools.

While the invention has been described and illustrated by reference todual and quadruple pipe string completions, the invention is applicableto triple completions employing three pipe strings. Likewise, a greaternumber of pipe strings than four may be used provided the principles andmode described herein are employed.

The nature and objects of the present invention having been completelydescribed and illustrated, what I wish to claim as new and useful andsecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A method for cementing a plurality of side-by-side parallel pipestrings lludly interconnected in a well bore, one of said pipe stringshaving a greater length than another of said pipe strings, and said pipestring of greater length allowing passage of fluid out its lower end andsaid another pipe string allowing passage of iluid through its wall at aselected point, which comprises sequentially closing fluid communicationbetween said pipe strings, ilowing a cementitious material down said onepipe string and out the end thereof to fill the annulus between the pipestrings and the Wall of said Well bore to a predetermined level belowthe selected point, opening communication for ilow unidirectionally fromthe one to the another pipe string, llowing cementitious material. downsaid another of" Said pipe strings and into the annulus above said firstilowed cementitious material, and then ilowing a displacing lluid downsaid one pipe string and displac ing cementitious material from saidanother pipe string whereby said pipe strings are cemented in said wellbore.

2. A method for cementing two side-by-side parallel pipe strings fluidlyinterconnected in a well bore, the iirst of said pipe strings allowingpassage of fluidv out its lower end and the second of said' pipe stringsallowing passage of fluid through its wall at a selected point, whichcomprises sequentially closing iluid communication between said pipestrings, ilowng a cementitious material downA said first pipe string andout the end thereof toY iill the annulus. between the pipeA strings andthe Wall of said well bore to a predetermined` level below the selectedpoint, opening communication for flow from the first to the second pipestring, llowing cementitious material down said second pipe string andinto the annulus above said first flowed cementitious material, and thenflowing a displacing fluid down said rst pipe string and displacingcementitious material from said second pipe string whereby said pipestrings are cemented in said well bore.

3. A method for cementing a plurality of side-by-side parallel pipestrings in a well bore, one of said pipe strings allowing passage ofiluid out its lower end and the other of said pipe strings allowingpassage of fluid through its Wall at a selected point, said pipe stringsiluidly communicating with each other, which comprises sequentiallyclosing lluid communication between said pipe strings, flowing acementitious material down said one pipe string and out the end thereofto lill the annulus between the pipe strings and the wall of said wellbore to a predetermined level below the selected point, restoringcommunication for ilow from the one to the other of said pipe strings,ilowing cementitious material down said other of said pipe strings andinto the annulus above said rst ilowed cementitious material, and thenllowing a displacing fluid down said one pipe string and displacingcementitious material from said other pipe string whereby said pipestrings are cemented in said well bore.

4. A method for cementing a plurality of side-by-side parallel pipestrings lluidly interconnected in a well bore, one of said pipe stringsallowing passage of fluid out its lower end and the other of said pipestrings allowing passage of lluid through its wall at a selected point,which comprises sequentially lowering a check valve into said other pipestring and positioning it to block iluid communication between said pipestrings, ilowing a cementitious material down said one pipe string andout the end thereof to ill the annulus between the pipe strings and thewall of said well bore to a predetermined level below the selectedpoint, raising said check valve in said other pipe string to position itto open communication for ilow unidirectionally from the one to theother of said pipe strings, flowing cementitious material down saidother of said pipe strings and into the annulus above said first llowedcementitious material, then flowing a displacing lluid down said onepipe string and displacing cementitious material from said other pipestring whereby said pipe strings are cemented in said well bore, andthen removing said check valve.

5. A method in accordance with claim 4 in which the check valve islowered, raised, and removed on a wireline.

6. Apparatus for use in a well which comprises a plurality ofside-by-side pipe strings arranged in said well, iluid interconnectionmeans interconnecting said pipe strings in said well, a cement shoe onthe lower end of one of said pipe strings, a retrievable first checkvalve arranged in a first position in another of said pipe strings toblock said iluid interconnection means and movable to a second positionto open said fluid interconnection means, said first check valveallowing fluid flow upwardly in said another pipe string, and a secondcheck valve connected to said another pipe string above said uidinterconnection means, said second check valve allowing iuid flow intothe annulus between said pipe strings and the wall of said Well.

7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 in which the second check valveis arranged on the exterior of said another pipe string.

8. A method for cementing a plurality of side-by-side parallel pipestrings uidly interconnected in a Well bore, one of said pipe stringsallowing passage of fluid out its lower end and another pipe stringallowing passage of uid through its wall at a selected point, whichcomprises sequentially closing fluid communication between said pipestrings, owing a cementitious material down said one pipe string and outthe end thereof to ll the annulus between the pipe strings and the wallof said well bore to a predetermined level below the selected point,opening communication for llow from the one to the another pipe string,flowing cementitious material down said another of said pipe strings andinto the annulus above said rst flowed cementitious material, and thenflowing a displacing iluid down said one pipe string and displacingcementitious material from said another pipe string whereby said pipestrings are cemented in said well bore.

9. A method in accordance with claim 3 in which the 10 selected point isabove the uid communication.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,196,535 Otis Apr. 9, 1940 15 2,938,584 Tausch et a1. May 31, 19602,939,533 Coberly June 7, 1960

1. A METHOD FOR CEMENTING A PLURALITY OF SIDE-BY-SIDE PARALLEL PIPE STRINGS FLUIDLY INTERCONNECTED IN A WELL BORE, ONE OF SAID PIPE STRINGS HAVING A GREATER LENGTH THAN ANOTHER OF SAID PIPE STRINGS, AND SAID PIPE STRING OF GREATER LENGTH ALLOWING PASSAGE OF FLUID OUT ITS LOWER END AND SAID ANOTHER PIPE STRING ALLOWING PASSAGE OF FLUID THROUGH ITS WALL AT A SELECTED POINT, WHICH COMPRISES SEQUENTIALLY CLOSING FLUID COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID PIPE STRINGS, FLOWING A CEMENTITIOUS MATERIAL DOWN SAID ONE PIPE STRING AND OUT THE END THEREOF TO FILL THE ANNULUS BETWEEN THE PIPE STRINGS AND THE WALL OF SAID WELL BORE TO A PREDETERMINED LEVEL BELOW THE SELECTED POINT, OPENING COMMUNICATION FOR FLOW UNIDIRECTIONALLY FROM THE ONE TO THE AN- 